MPs raised questions on Monday regarding how a former SS member managed to avoid being properly vetted before being honoured on Parliament Hill..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the cabinet stated that it had no involvement in any background check on Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old resident of North Bay, ON..“Obviously, it’s extremely upsetting that this happened,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters. .“The Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized. This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians.”.Hunka was presented to the Commons on Friday by Speaker Anthony Rota (Nipissing-Timiskaming, ON) as a “Canadian hero” who “fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians” in the Second World War. .Hunka was a volunteer with the 14 Waffen Grenadier Division, an SS unit cited as a criminal organization, and immigrated to Canada after the war..The Speaker's Office did not explain why it did not perform a basic vetting of Hunka..The former SS member detailed his service in a 2011 article in Combatant News, a Ukrainian-language website based in the United States..“My generation was united by two great forces, faith in God and love for Ukraine,” the website quoted Hunka. He wrote he was a prisoner of war in 1945 but enjoyed “a profitable and affluent life in Canada.”.“The Government House leader today confirmed in the House of Commons the government had vetted ‘everyone who was invited to Parliament,’” said Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre. .“The information confirming the individual’s involvement with the Nazi Waffen SS was easily found and accessible through a basic internet search.”.Parliament rejected a motion from Poilievre that it “condemn the prime minister and the Government of Canada for failing to do appropriate vetting on this individual.” .It also rejected a motion by the cabinet that the “hero” tribute be erased from the official Commons records, including video recordings of MPs applauding Hunka..“Today is Yom Kippur,” said Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB). .“The Jewish community, my community, is horrified. Only one office in the country is responsible for vetting visitors to this place, the Prime Minister’s Office.”.“The prime minister has the massive security apparatus of the state at his disposal and yet a Nazi was honoured in this place,” said Morantz. .“I cannot believe I am even uttering these words.”.Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc expressed surprise after learning of Hunka's background..“All parliamentarians were taken by surprise with this particular individual being invited,” said LeBlanc..Rota took responsibility for organizing the tribute but did not explain why his office did not conduct a routine check. .Rota, a former North Bay councillor, has held the position of Speaker since 2019..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
MPs raised questions on Monday regarding how a former SS member managed to avoid being properly vetted before being honoured on Parliament Hill..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the cabinet stated that it had no involvement in any background check on Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old resident of North Bay, ON..“Obviously, it’s extremely upsetting that this happened,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters. .“The Speaker has acknowledged his mistake and has apologized. This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians.”.Hunka was presented to the Commons on Friday by Speaker Anthony Rota (Nipissing-Timiskaming, ON) as a “Canadian hero” who “fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians” in the Second World War. .Hunka was a volunteer with the 14 Waffen Grenadier Division, an SS unit cited as a criminal organization, and immigrated to Canada after the war..The Speaker's Office did not explain why it did not perform a basic vetting of Hunka..The former SS member detailed his service in a 2011 article in Combatant News, a Ukrainian-language website based in the United States..“My generation was united by two great forces, faith in God and love for Ukraine,” the website quoted Hunka. He wrote he was a prisoner of war in 1945 but enjoyed “a profitable and affluent life in Canada.”.“The Government House leader today confirmed in the House of Commons the government had vetted ‘everyone who was invited to Parliament,’” said Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre. .“The information confirming the individual’s involvement with the Nazi Waffen SS was easily found and accessible through a basic internet search.”.Parliament rejected a motion from Poilievre that it “condemn the prime minister and the Government of Canada for failing to do appropriate vetting on this individual.” .It also rejected a motion by the cabinet that the “hero” tribute be erased from the official Commons records, including video recordings of MPs applauding Hunka..“Today is Yom Kippur,” said Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB). .“The Jewish community, my community, is horrified. Only one office in the country is responsible for vetting visitors to this place, the Prime Minister’s Office.”.“The prime minister has the massive security apparatus of the state at his disposal and yet a Nazi was honoured in this place,” said Morantz. .“I cannot believe I am even uttering these words.”.Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc expressed surprise after learning of Hunka's background..“All parliamentarians were taken by surprise with this particular individual being invited,” said LeBlanc..Rota took responsibility for organizing the tribute but did not explain why his office did not conduct a routine check. .Rota, a former North Bay councillor, has held the position of Speaker since 2019..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.